Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on Wednesday for allegedly smuggling 15 kilograms of gold worth ₹12.56 crore from Dubai. Shocking revelations from the ongoing investigation indicate that Rao, the stepdaughter of senior Karnataka IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, had been smuggling gold for the past year, making over 30 trips to Dubai.
Authorities discovered that Rao was allegedly paid ₹1 lakh per kilogram of gold, potentially earning ₹12-13 lakh per trip. Investigators also revealed that she used specially modified jackets and waist belts to hide the gold during her travels. At the time of her arrest by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), she was caught concealing the gold bars inside her custom-made jacket.
Ranya Rao had reportedly been under surveillance due to her frequent international trips. DRI officials intercepted her just as she was about to clear airport security. Despite attempting to use her connection to IPS officer Ramachandra Rao for leverage, authorities conducted a thorough search and recovered the smuggled gold.
The total assets seized in connection with the case amount to ₹17.29 crore, including ₹4.73 crore in additional assets. The high-profile arrest has sent shockwaves through the film industry and law enforcement circles, with further investigations expected to uncover more details about the smuggling network.
